"Oswego County couple convicted of stealing over $200,000 from elderly retired Air Force vet"

RallyPoint Shared Content — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:13:36 -0400

From: Syracuse.com

OSWEGO, N.Y. -- An Oswego County couple face up to 20 years in prison after they were convicted on all counts Tuesday of stealing more than $200,000 from the first female full colonel in U.S. military history.

Morgan Tetro and David Tetro Jr., both of Minetto, were convicted in Oswego County Court of stealing the money from 85-year-old Irene Dennison, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced.

Irene Dennison served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1982. She was pivotal in rescuing U.S. Senator John McCain in 1973, when the senator was a prisoner of war being held by the North Vietnamese Army, Schneiderman announced. At one point in her nearly 25-year career, Dennison oversaw more than 3,000 troops in Germany.

"Stealing from anyone is wrong; stealing from an elderly woman who spent decades serving her country is abhorrent," Schneiderman said in a statement.

The Tetros met Dennison in 1997 when Dennison rented a home to David Tetro Jr. They became friends and in the following years, became the elderly woman's primary care providers, managed her finances and eventually gained power of attorney.

From 2009 to 2011, the Tetros diverted thousands of dollars from Dennison's bank accounts to other accounts.

They lost more than $140,000 of the stolen money gambling at Turning Stone Casino. The rest of the stolen money paid for alcohol, eBay and PayPal purchases, Victoria's Secret purchases, hairpieces for David Tetro Jr. and other expenses.

During that time, Morgan Tetro also sold more than a dozen properties Dennison owned in New York, Florida and Maryland, Schneiderman announced.

"This decision should serve as a reminder that those who scam innocent victims will be brought to justice," State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico said in a statement. "This couple took advantage of an elderly woman, using the veteran's hard-earned money to fund personal expenses and gambling habits."

The thefts were discovered when David Tetro Jr. applied for Medicaid benefits and his listed income didn't match his expenses, especially the gambling debts, the attorney general's office said at the time of their October 2014 arrests.

The two falsely obtained Medicaid benefits by concealing the stolen money. David Tetro Jr. stole more than $15,000 from the Oswego County Department of Social Services, while Morgan Tetro stole more than $7,000.

Morgan Tetro was also convicted of not paying state taxes on the her fraudulent income, to the tune of $3,000 between 2010 and 2011.

Both Morgan and David Tetro were convicted of second-degree grand larceny and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

Morgan Tetro was additionally convicted of fourth-degree welfare fraud and two counts of fourth-degree tax fraud, all felonies.

David Tetro Jr. was additionally convicted of third-degree welfare fraud.

Both will be sentenced before Judge Walter W. Hafner on Oct. 8. David Tetro Jr. faces 7 1/3 to 20 years in prison, while Morgan Tetro faces 10 to 20 years in prison.

http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/09/oswego_county_couple_convicted_of_stealing_over_200000_from_elderly_retired_air.html

Oswego County couple convicted of stealing over $200,000 from elderly retired Air Force vet

Morgan and David Tetro face up to 20 years in prison for stealing more than $200,000 from an elderly Air Force veteran.

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Sep 8 at 2015 11:29 AM

SGT Forrest Stewart — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:29:32 -0400

Good.

Response by CPL(P) Bret Farritor made Sep 8 at 2015 11:33 AM

CPL(P) Bret Farritor — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:33:37 -0400

I am both angered and saddened to read this as the New York State Department of Labor's Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist for Oswego County, New York.

Let this serve as both a subject lesson for potential grifters like this couple and a call for vigilance to public servants and our community to protect our own.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 8 at 2015 11:36 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:36:50 -0400

It is really a human tragedy that scum like this walk the earth.

The bigger tragedy is that elderly people fall for these scams every day. Agencies on aging across the country work on this scourge, but you can't win every battle...

Response by PFC Robert Falk made Sep 8 at 2015 11:36 AM

PFC Robert Falk — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:36:52 -0400

I don't like thieves or back stabbers which is what they did to her. serves them right.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 8 at 2015 11:42 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:42:06 -0400

Jail is too nice for them. I vote they get to replace the targets at the machine gun ranges on Ft. Riley while under live fire. But that's just MY opinion. They could do this with Bergdhal, and save the taxpayers a lot of money and continue their service to the nation.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 8 at 2015 12:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 12:39:09 -0400

This sounds like my jackass BIL who took care of my FIL who was a Vietnam Veteran. They lived in a small 3 bedroom house and his $5000/mo retirement and stipends was plenty for their situation. However, the BIL was spending money on frivolous things and probably drugs. The VA revoked his POA and paid expenses on the FIL's behalf.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 8 at 2015 1:15 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:15:55 -0400

Sounds like they deserve far worse punishment in my book

Response by 1SG Adais Garcia made Sep 9 at 2015 4:26 AM

1SG Adais Garcia — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 04:26:26 -0400

Hum what to do with them Dammm it I can NOT post it but if you are on the same Anger wave then you can only imagine what I would do with this two Idiots Enough Said